Electric heater



Nov. 13, 1923. 1,473,867

S. I. PHELPS v V ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Feb. 18. 1922 ,2 ShGGtS-Shfit 1 Nov. 13, 1923.

s. l. PHELPS ELECTRIC HEATER v Filed Feb .18,1922 70 /0 IE 9g U UUUUCIUDU 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED srarss PATENT orrice.

I. PHELPS, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

Application filed February 18, 1922. Serial No. 537,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Sesame 1. Future, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, anl a resident of Rockford. county of Winnebago, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful improvement in Electric Heaters. of which the following is a specification.

'The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved construction and arrangement off an electric heater particularly designedtor use on an electric range as what is commonly termed the outside heater or hot plate; to provide an improved heater or hot plate of this character made up of a plurality of separately formed electric heating units constructed in accordance with copending application serial No. 537379, filed February 18, 1922; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the iframe for supporting said units; to provide an improved construction and arrangement on said heater frame and the supporting part of the range of electrical conductors and contacts for connecting said units with a source of electricity whereby two or more heaters may be mounted on a single frame and independently operated at difie rent heats and at the same time permit the ready removal of said frame and heaters from the range and their replace ment on the range; and to provide a heater ot' this kind which is light and convenient to handle.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view of an elec.

tric range equipped with outside heaters or hot plates constructed in accordancewith this invention, the figure showing the range with one pair of hot plates in position and the other pair removed.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view 01 a duplex outside heater or hot plate constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the same.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional detail taken on the line 4-4: 0t Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the heating units, a plurality of which make up the heaters or hot plates in an invention of this kind.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of s Figure 7 is a front elevation ofthe same.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits of a duplex heater construction such as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

As with all' cooking ranges a complete electric range embodies one or more ovens and one or more outside heating devices. In an electric range the particular relative arrangement of the oven and the outside heating device is not important but both are essential. For purposes of illustration Figure 1 shows a preferred form of an electric range which in style resembles one of the conventional types of gas ranges. The structure comprises a frame upon which is arranged ovens A, and B, and which provides a support 0 for the outside heating device commonly referred to in electrical construction as the outside heaters or hot plates. The essential feature of this invention is the construction and arrangement oi: these outside heaters or hot plates.

An electric heater constructed in accordance with this invention embodies a plurality of separately constructed heating units vertically arranged side by side on a frame with the upper edgesthereort disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane, each unit having contacts engaging bus bars supported on the under side ct said frame and having their ends arranged to engage contacts on the range trame trom which wires lead to a source of electricity, the hen... er frame being thereby rendered readily removable from the range and replaceable thereon without disturbing the. arrangement of the heatingunits which make up the heater and without requiring the disconnection and connection of wires.

In the specific embodiment herein shown the heater comprises a frame 1 upon which the heating units 2 are arranged so that their contacts 3 engage with bus bars 4: supported on the underside of the frame and at their rear ends detachably connected with contacts 5 secured to the back of the range and connected by suitable wires to a source of electricity.

The frame 1 is of open rectangular shape and constructed so as to fit within an opening (5 formed in the support C. This frame is preferably a cast construction and is intended to be as readily removable from and replaceable on the support C is the utensil-supporting-frame on a gas range. Fingers 7 integrally formed onthe frame extend inwardly toward each other from two sides thereof and are uniformly spaced apart so as to provide recesses 8 for the reception of the heating units 2. An apron or flange 9 depends from each side of the frame 1 and provides a support for insu lating blocks 10 (see Figs. 3 and t) which are adapted to carry the bus bars 4t and which are secured to the respective flanges or aprons 9 by means of plates 11 (see Figs. 3 and 4).

The frame 1 is divided by a cross part 12 into two sections each of which is intended to support a group of units 2 thereby providing on a single frame two outside heaters or hot plates.

The heating units 2 are of the construction shown in hereinbefore mentioned copendingapplication and comprise a core upon which the resistance material spirally wound and connected. at its ends to the contacts 8, the core being;- enveloped in a metal sheath or casing which, after being folded around the core, is bent longitudinally thereof so as to provide angularly disposed heating sections 13 and 14 (see Fig. 5), the latter of which is much narrower than the former. These heating units 2 are adapted to be arranged side by side in vertically disposed relation with the wide sec tions disposed vertically in the slots 8 be tween fingers 7 and with the narrow sections 14: disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane to provide a support for the utensils containing the food to be cooked. The contacts 3 are so arranged on the units 2 that the spring-clip ends 15 thereof: are adapted to yieldingly engage certain two of the bus bars 4 as will more clearly herein after appear.

The bus bars at of which, in this specific embodiment, there are three for each group of units, are of wedge-shape cross section and extend longitudinally of the frame 1 and are secured to the insulating blocks 10 in a definitely arranged order. As will be noted from Figures 3 and 8, the bars 4, i", and 41- are for the group of units comprising the heater at the rear of the frame 1 and are located nearer the lateral edges of the frame than the other bars and entend from the rear edge of the frame to a point adjacent to the cross-part 12. On the other hand the bus bars i 9*, and 1 are offset intermediate their ends so that the portions which extend along under the group of units in the for ward section of the frame 1 in longitudinal alinement with the bus bars r, 1, and et respectively, the rear portions of said bus bars 1 1, and 4 being located invardly of the shorter bus bars 1 4. and 4 and, extending parallel thereto and terminating near the r end of the frame the same as do said bus bars at, 1 and a. This arrangement of the bus bars enables the heating units to be uniformly constructed so that regardless of in which section of the frame they may be used the contacts 3 will. properly en gage the respective bus bars.

The relationship of these bus bars 1 and contacts 3 are such that one contact on each unit engages either the bus bar 1 or a", de pending upon which section of the frame the unit is arranged in, and the other contact on pages either the bus bar 1- or 1" or 1 or 4 depending upon which section of the frame the unit is arranged in. Thus the units in each section are connected in parallel in two different circuits so that by means of a vthree-heat switch interposed between the contacts 5 and a source of electricity the units of each heater may be operated to produce a multiple of heats.

In order to make the frame 1, with the units 2 as normally assembled thereon, removable a whole from the support C the rear ends of the bus bars 4: are arranged to have interlittii'ig engagement with the spring contacts seated in suitable recesses in an insulating block 16 secured to the back of the range frai'i'ie below the support C. These con tacts 5 are arranged in two groups, four at one side of the opening 6, and two at the other, and have their terminal posts 17 connected by suitable wires, diagranunatically illustrated at 18 in Figure 8, to multiple heat switches 19 and 20 which in turn are connected in the usual way to a source of electricity. The switches 19 and 20 are mounted on the upper part of the back of the range frame and have keys 21 (see Fig. 1) by which they are manipulated.

The contacts are set back in the recesses in the block 16 a suflicient distance to prevent any objects from touching; any two of the contacts and possibly closing one of the circuits.

The advantage of an outside heater or hot plate ronstructed in this manner is that it can be readily removed from the support C to allow convenient and ready cl aning of all adjacent parts of the ran go and not leave any exposed contacts likely to interfere with this cleaning operation. The heater can then be very conveniently and quickly replaced and automatically connected in circuit with the control switches 19 and 20. A further advantage is that the units themselves can be readily removed from the frame either for cleaning or for replacement. I

The operation of the device herein shown and described is believed to be so apparent from the foregoing description as not to require a further detailed explanation.

Although but one specific embodimentof this invention has been herein shownaud de scribed, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An electric heater comprising a support, a frame reinovably arranged thereon, a plurality of separately constructed heating units arranged on said frame, interi'itting separable contacts located on said support and frame, and conductors connecting the contacts on said frame with said units and connecting the contacts on said support with a source of electricity.

2. An electric heater comprising a sup port, a frame removably arranged thereon, a plurality of bus bars secured to said frame, a plurality of separately constructed heating units removably arranged side by side on said frame, contacts rigid on each of said units engaging said bus bars, and means associated with said bus bars for detachably connecting said bars with contacts on said support which lead to a source of electricity.

3. An electric heater comprising a support, a frame removably arranged thereon, a plurality of bus bars secured to said frame and extending longitudinally thereof below the top, a plurality of separately constructed flat heating units arranged on said frame side by side in vertically disposed relation transversely of said bus bars, contacts rigid on each of said units engaging said bus bars, and means associated with said bus bars for detachably connecting said bars with contacts on said support which lead to a source of electricity.

4. An electric heater comprising a support, a. frame removably mounted thereon, bus bars secured to said frame on the under side thereof, a plurality of separately constructed heating units rcmovably arranged side by side on said heater frame, contacts on said units engaging said bus bars, and other contacts on said support adapted to engage the ends of said bus bars, said other contacts being adapted for connection with a source of electricity.

5. An electric heater comprising a support, a frame removably mounted thereon, an apron depending from the under side of said frame, blocks of insulating material secured to said apron, bus bars extending longitudinally of said frame and supported on said blocks, a plurality of separately constructed heating units removably arranged side by side on said rame, contacts on said units engaging said bus bars, and other contacts on said support adapted to engage the ends of said bus bars, said other contacts being adapted for connection with a source of electricity. i

6. An electric heater comprising a frame ha transversely disposed recesses formed therein adjacent to opposite sides thereof and uniformly spaced apart, a plurality of bus secured tothe under side of said frameand extending transversely of said recesses, a plurality of separately constructed flat rectangular heating units vertically arranged in said recesses with the upper faces of said units disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane above said frame contacts on said units engaging said bus bars, and means associated with said bus bars for detachably connecting the same with a source of electricity.

7. An electric heater comprising an open frame having fingers extending inwardly toward each other from two sides thereof and uniformly spaced apart lengthwise of said frame, bus bars secured to the underside of said frame and extending lengthwise thereof, a plurality of separately constructed flat rectangular heating units vertically arranged on said frame between said fingers with the upper edges of said units disposed in the same horizontal plane above said frame, contacts on said units engaging said bus bars, and means associated with said bus bars for detachably connecting said bars with a source of electricity.

8. An electric heater, comprising an open rectangular frame divided into two sections, a plurality of bus bars supported on the under side of said frame and extending longr tudinally thereof, a plurality of separately constructed heating units arranged side by side in each of the frame sections so as to provide two separate heating surfaces, contacts on each of said units engaging said bus bars, and means associated with the rear ends of said bus bars for detachably connecting the same with a source of electricity.

9. An electric heater comprising a frame, a plurality of bus bars secured to said frame, a plurality of separately constructed flat heating units reino-vably arranged side by side on said frame transversely of said bus bars, contacts rigid on each of said units engaging said bus bars, and means adapted to connect said bus bars with a source of elec tricity.

10. An electric heater comprising a frame, a plurality of bus bars secured to said frame, a plurality of separately constructed flat narrow rectangular heating units removably arranged side by side on said frame in vertically disposed relation transversely of said bus bars. with their upper edges disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane above said frame, contacts rigid on each of said. units engaging said bus bars, and means adapted to connect said bus bars with a source of electricity.

11.. An electric stove comprising a support, one or more outside heaters, a frame carrying said one or more-heaters and re movably mounted on said support, interfitting e 7arahle contacts located on said support and said frame whereby said frame and one or more heaters as a unit may be removed from and replaced on said support, conductors connecting the contacts on the frame with said one 01 more heaters, and the contacts on said support with source of electricity. 10

Sign-ed at Rockford this 14th day of February, 1922.

SEEKING I. PHELPS. 

